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Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021

Tuesday, 2 November 2021

Questions (1228, 1229, 1230)

Michael Lowry

Question:

1228. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 21 October 2021, the anticipated timeline for the outcome on potential alternatives to the current system in the discussions between his officials and their counterparts in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52925/21]

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Michael Lowry

Question:

1229. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 21 October 2021, if an applicant proposes the use of a conifer nurse species, if his officials view this in the strictest sense of conifer species replacing broadleaf species in such instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52926/21]

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Michael Lowry

Question:

1230. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 21 October 2021, if his officials raised the specific issue of the disease status of the broadleaf crop with their counterparts in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in the drafting of the legislation given the requirement for planning does not take into account the disease status of the broadleaf crop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52927/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1228 to 1230, inclusive, together.

The Department's Forestry related Circular 5 of 2021 outlines the advice my Department received from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in relation to the “replacement of Broadleaf High Forest with conifer species”.

The Circular outlined the situations where planning permission from the Local Authority is required when replacing Broadleaf High Forest with Conifer species and when planning permission is not required. The requirement for planning does not take into account the disease status of the Broadleaf High Forest.

Contact has been made between my Department's officials and their counterparts in Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on this issue as outlined at the meeting with the Oireachtas Committee. We are exploring potential alternatives to the current system that requires both planning permission and a felling licence (or exemption from a felling licence).

Applicants can propose any species or range of species they wish including mixtures under the Reconstitution and Underplanting scheme. In relation to the current situation where planning permission is required in some instances, the interpretation of this where nurse species are proposed, or where there are doubts whether Planning permission is required, is ultimately for each Local Authority to decide.

My Department will update in due course on developments.

Question No. 1229 answered with Question No. 1228.
Question No. 1230 answered with Question No. 1228.
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